PONTIAC (WWJ) - An Oakland County Prosecutor outlined the "darkness" behind Ethan Crumbly, stating the 15-year-old was more concerned about his image and frequently seeks to interact with others who commend his role in the deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School last November.
Crumbly appeared Tuesday for a hearing in Oakland County Circuit where Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Collins said the defendant asked for his "fan mail," along with any hate mail, as part of what she called his obsession with becoming famous for his alleged crimes.
Collins described how Crumbly gravitated toward other troubled juveniles and frequently talked about his 'darkness' in text messages and in journal entries.
“The scary thing is, I like being this f—ed up," Collins said he texted to another teen.
According to Collins, Crumbly wrote about how he weighed the pros and cons of getting shot and killed by officers vs. committing suicide after the mass shooting on Nov. 30.
But neither option, Collins said, would satisfy Crumbly's desire to be remembered.
"...Not as someone who made a positive positive impact on society, not as someone who brought something good or meaningful to the table, but he wants to be compared to the likes of Hitler or Dahmer or the Parkland School Shooter -- using them as inspirations for actions he sets about taking," Collins said.
She said Crumbly wrote in his journal that he wanted life behind bars, "with the intention that he would be remembered forever."
The assistant prosecutor also described how Crumbly was given a tablet for his studies which he has access to while in jail, but he rarely uses it for school, preferring to send disturbing emails to others online.
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"He also takes time to mention to some of his fans out there, 'my next court date is February 22, maybe you can watch it on TV.'"
"This is what he wants. He wants to be noticed, he wants us to relish in his behaviors," Collins said.
The assistant prosecutor said they uncovered many other disturbing details in Crumbly's journals and videos posted online, from his torturing and decapitating birds to writing about how he was going to stalk, rape and murder a female student.
Tuesday's hearing was to determine whether Crumbly should be moved out of the Oakland County Jail -- where he is currently held -- to a juvenile detention facility in Pontiac.
Collins vehemently opposed the move, calling the action to place him in with other teens "inappropriate and against the interest of justice."
“If he is given the opportunity to converse one-on-one with little to no supervision... that should scare all of us and I know it scares me."
Crumbly's defense attorney pushed for him to move to Children's Village juvenile center, arguing that solitary confinement at the Oakland County Jail isn't the right place for someone who is mentally ill.
A judge is expected to make a decision by next Monday.
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